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Tools Reference

The TfL MCP Server exposes 6 dynamic tools that query live London transport data via the TfL Unified API. Names of stops are automatically resolved to NaPTAN IDs dynamically.

The tool surface is identical over stdio and stateless Streamable HTTP. Both transports require an MCP 2026-07-28 client.

service_status — Service Status

Get the current operational status and disruptions for London Underground lines.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
modes string Yes Currently fixed to tube

Example query: "Is the Central line running normally?"

Example response (text fallback): 

Central: Good Service
Victoria: Minor Delays — Earlier signal failure at Stockwell

MCP Apps UI (Progressive Enhancement)

This tool includes MCP Apps support. UI-capable hosts (e.g. Claude Desktop) can render an interactive service status board. Non-UI hosts continue to receive the text response above.

  • Resource URI: ui://tfl/service-status
  • MIME type: text/html;profile=mcp-app
  • Design: London transport status-board inspired (uses standard line colours, not TfL brand identity)

The tool also returns structured JSON data alongside the text, allowing the UI to render status information without parsing human-readable text:

[
  { "id": "central", "name": "Central", "statuses": [{ "severity": "Good Service" }] },
  { "id": "victoria", "name": "Victoria", "statuses": [{ "severity": "Minor Delays", "reason": "Earlier signal failure" }] }
]

arrivals — Stop Arrivals

Get live arrival predictions at a TfL stop by its common name.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
stopName string Yes Stop name or search term, e.g. oxford

Example query: "When is the next tube from Oxford Circus?"

Example response: 

Central → Epping: 2 min (Eastbound - Platform 2)
Central → Epping: 5 min (Eastbound - Platform 2)

journey — Journey Planner

Plan a journey between two points using the TfL Journey Planner, combining different transport modes.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
from string Yes Origin: NaPTAN ID, postcode, or lat,lon
to string Yes Destination: NaPTAN ID, postcode, or lat,lon

Example query: "How do I get from King's Cross to Canary Wharf?"

Example response: 

Journey 1 (32 min):
  - Take Piccadilly line to King's Cross St. Pancras (2 min)
  - Take Jubilee line to Canary Wharf (28 min)
  - Walk to destination (2 min)

bike_points — Santander Cycles Docking Stations

List all Santander Cycles docking stations across London with current bike and empty dock availability.

Parameters: None

Example query: "Are there any bikes available near Clerkenwell?"

Example response: 

BikePoints_1 — River Street, Clerkenwell: 9 bikes, 9 empty docks
BikePoints_2 — Phillimore Gardens, Kensington: 0 bikes, 13 empty docks

crowding — Station Crowding

Get live crowding data for a TfL station by its name, showing how busy it is compared to the typical baseline.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
stopName string Yes Stop name or search term, e.g. oxford circus

Example query: "How busy is Oxford Circus right now?"

Example response: 

940GZZLUOXC: 69% of typical crowding level (baseline ratio: 0.6863)

fares — Fare Finder

Get fare information between two named TfL stops, including pay-as-you-go and cash single prices.

Parameters:

Name Type Required Description
fromName string Yes Origin stop name, e.g. oxford circus
toName string Yes Destination stop name, e.g. bond street

Example query: "How much is a tube fare from Oxford Circus to Bond Street?"

Example response: 

Oxford Circus → Bond Street (Adult):
  £2.80 — Pay as you go (Peak)
  £2.70 — Pay as you go (Off Peak)
  £6.70 — CashSingle (Anytime)